Binge-watching TV could kill you, apparently

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Binge-watching TV shows on Netflix, your DVR or on-demand might be fun, but apparently it can also kill you. A new study by the American Heart Association shows that those who watch a lot of TV are more likely to die prematurely than those who do not.

The study, cited by The Hollywood Reporter, followed more than 10,000 Spanish adults. All were healthy and college-educated at the beginning of the study. Over eight years, 97 participants died — 19 from cardiovascular disease, 46 from cancer and 32 from a variety of other causes.

In the study, those who watched three hours or more of television daily were twice as likely to suffer a premature death than those who watched less than one hour.

Of course, it’s not the binged shows themselves that cause deaths to come earlier, although TV may be at the root of the problem. Other sedentary activities didn’t seem to increase the chance of death.

Dr. Keith Ayoob, one of those involved in the study, pointed out that TV-watching often goes along with “mindless eating and mindless snacking” and pointed out that excessive television might be a marker of a particular lifestyle.

Don’t expect Netflix to change how it releases new seasons of “House of Cards” or “Orange Is the New Black” as a result. Viewers just have to ration how much of these shows to watch at a time — even if it’s really hard to stop.